Water wheel motor

ABSTRACT

The water wheel motor consisting of the outlet device ( 1 ) located in front of the wheel ( 5 ) and of the drain device ( 6 ) located under the wheel ( 5 ), which can rotate on the rotation axes ( 18 ) and on which the isobaric paddles ( 4 ) are fixed. All points of the wheel ( 5 ) and of the isobaric paddles ( 4 ) are in the bigger distance or in zero distance above the plane ( 21 ), which is identical with the plane ( 19 ) or lower and at the same time parallel to the plane ( 19 ) limiting the upper level of the drain device ( 6 ) space containing water. The axis ( 2 ) of the outlet device ( 1 ) is directed on the isobaric paddles ( 4 ) and the rotation axis ( 18 ) of the wheel ( 5 ) is in the vertical, horizontal or oblique position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The technical solution refers to the equipment for change ofhydro-energetic potential of water flow to the mechanical energy withthe possibility of further transformation of the energy into anotherform.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

At the presence there are many types of the equipments used in the worldfor transformation of hydro-energetic potential of water flow to themechanical energy with the possibility to transform this energy intoanother form. According to their design and the way of energytransformation they are divided into water wheels and water turbines.

The water wheels are actuated by upper, middle and lower drive. Thewater wheels with upper drive use the potential energy of water. Theyare of the bucket type, rotating between the upper and lower waterlevel. Water from the upper level flows into the buckets and turns thewheel by the water gravity; water flows out on the lower level. Theoperating conditions of water wheels with upper drive are: The waterlevel difference from 3 to 12 m, water flow rate from 0.3 to 1.0 m³·s⁻¹

The water wheels with middle and lower drive are of the paddle type,they rotation axis is above the lower level and the water wheel paddlestake the energy from the water by wading in the lower flow, created bystream coming from the upper level. The water wheel with middle driveuse partially the potential energy and partially the kinetic energy ofwater streaming between the water wheel paddles approximately at thelevel of water wheel rotation axis. They are represented by Sagebien,Zuppinger and Piccard wheels. The water wheels with lower drive use onlythe kinetic energy of water flowing between the water wheel paddles inthe tangential direction at the lower part of the water wheel. Therepresentant of this type is the Poncelet wheel.

The water wheel paddles are plane, or slightly bent in the planeperpendicular to the water wheel rotation axis. The operating conditionsof water wheels with middle and lower drive are: The difference betweenwater levels from 0.5 to 4.0 m, flow rates from 0.5 to 4.0 m³·s⁻¹. Theefficiency of all water wheels moves from 60 to 70%. The advantage ofwater wheels is their simple design and low price. Their disadvantage istheir low efficiency and a small range of operating conditions. The lowefficiency is caused by paddle shape and their resistance by wading inwater. The small range of operation conditions results from the relationbetween the water wheel dimension and the difference of water levels.

The water turbines are classified, according to the water energy typethey use, to the isobaric and overpressure type and according to theturbine water flow direction to radial, axial, radial-axial, diagonal,tangential, with oblique flow and double flow. The isobaricturbines—Pelton and Banki turbine, take the water kinetic energy.

The Pelton turbine is of tangential type. Water is supplied via pressurepipe with a nozzle on its end, where its pressure energy is transformedinto the kinetic one and the stream of water is sprayed in tangentialdirection on the space shaped turbine paddles along the turbine rotorcircumference. The turbine rotor rotates in the air above the lowerwater level. The rotation axis can be horizontal and vertical. Theoperation ranges are: The difference between water levels from 30 to 900m, flow rates from 0.02 to 1.0 m³·s⁻¹. The efficiency moves up to 91%.

The Banki turbine with double radial flow through the paddle wheel has ahorizontal rotation axis. The wheel paddles take the kinetic energy fromwater streaming out of regulation flap, located immediately above theturbine wheel. The operation conditions are: The difference betweenwater levels from 1.5 to 50 m, flow rates from 0.02 to 1.5 m³·s⁻¹. Theefficiency moves up to 85%.

The representatives of water overpressure turbines are: Kaplan turbine,Francisci turbine, and their different modifications, for example socalled propeller or suction turbine.

The Kaplan turbine is of axial type. The operation conditions are: Thedifference between water levels from 1.5 to 75 m, flow rates from 0.2 to20 m³·s⁻¹. The efficiency moves from 88 to 95%.

The Francis turbine is of radial-axial type. The operation ranges are:The difference between water levels from 10 to 400 m, flow rates from0.05 to 15 m³·s⁻¹. The efficiency moves from 88 to 95%.

The advantage of water turbines is a big range of operation conditionsand higher efficiency. Their disadvantage is the complicated equipmentand high price.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the proposed technical solution the advantages of water wheel, simpledesign and low price, are combined with the advantages of water turbine;the water wheel motor, for energetic use of hydro-energetic potential ofthe water flow, consists of the outlet device, drain device, wheel andisobaric paddles fixed to the wheel, which can rotate around therotation axis.

The wheel with fixed isobaric paddles rotates around its rotation axisand has such a position, in relation to the drain device, that allpaddle points are in the zero or bigger distance above the plane, whichis identical or lower and at the same time parallel to the planelimiting the drain device space containing water.

The rotation axis of the wheel with isobaric paddles can be vertical,horizontal or oblique.

The outlet device, thanks to its shape and position of its axis inrelation to the isobaric paddle wheel, guides the water stream, createdby the hydro-energetic water potential, to the isobaric paddles fixed tothe wheel.

The isobaric paddles take the kinetic energy from water streaming onthem and exerting the force on them, and they change this energy to themechanical energy of the wheel rotary movement. The isobaric paddles,due to their shape, size, position in relation to the water stream,direction, shape of their trajectory and relative speed of theirmovement against the water stream, determine the transformationefficiency of kinetic water energy to the mechanical energy.

The wheel design enables the further transport of its rotation movementenergy, gained by means of the isobaric paddles from the kinetic waterenergy, to other technical equipments.

The water stream, guided by the outlet equipment on the isobaric wheelpaddles, falls from the isobaric wheel paddles, after giving them itskinetic energy, on the water surface, which is identical or lower and atthe same time parallel with the plane limiting the space of drain devicecontaining water, which is located below the wheel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1—diagram explaining the nature of technical solution of the waterwheel motor.

FIG. 2—small hydroelectric power plant with inlet channel, pressureshaft and water wheel motor with horizontal rotation axis.

FIG. 3—small hydroelectric power plant with inlet channel, pressureshaft and water wheel motor with vertical rotation axis.

FIG. 4—small hydroelectric power plant with inlet channel, water slipand water wheel motor with horizontal rotation axis.

FIG. 5—small hydroelectric power plant with water level heaved by asteel damper and with four independent water wheel motor with horizontalrotation axis.

FIG. 6—small hydroelectric power plant on the weir of the water flowwith water wheel motor with vertical rotation axis.

FIG. 7—small hydroelectric power plant on the heaved weir with waterwheel motor with horizontal rotation axis.

FIG. 8—small hydroelectric power plant on the overflow over the steeldamper of the water flow with water wheel motor, with horizontalrotation axis.

EXAMPLES

The proposed technical solution in the FIG. 2 was used for the design ofa small hydro-electric power plant of micro plants category, with thelevel difference of 2.8 m, flow rate 0.125 to 1.0 m³·s⁻¹ and withinstalled capacity of 22 kW. The equipment in the FIG. 2 consists ofupper water level inlet channel 3, pressure shaft 12, regulating outletdevice 1, floater regulator 11 of the outlet equipment 1, isobaricpaddles 4 fixed on the wheel 5 with horizontal rotation axis 18, draindevice 6, friction transmission 7, generator 8, electric part of themicro-electric power plant 9, equipment carrying frame 10.

The inlet channel for upper level 3 guides water into the pressure shaft12, where the water, by acting of water column hydrostatic pressure,sprays via outlet device 1 in direction of axis 2 of the outlet device 1on the isobaric paddles 4 of the wheel 5, which creates the torque onthe wheel 5 embedded on the horizontal rotation axis 18 in the equipmentframe 10. The torque is transmitted from the wheel 5 via frictiontransmission 7 to the generator 8. The water from paddles 4 falls on thewater surface, which is identical with the plane 21 and this isidentical with the plane 19 or is in lower position and at the same timeit is parallel with the plane 19 limiting the upper level of the watercontaining drain device 6. The electric part 9 of the micro electricpower plant ensures the technical parameters required for connection ofgenerator 8 into the public electricity network. The floater regulator11 keeps, by regulating the outlet device 1, the constant upper waterlevel 3, disregarding the water supply in the inlet channel.

The proposed technical solution in the FIG. 3 was used for the design ofa small hydro-electric power plant of micro plant category, with thelevel difference of 2.0 m, flow rate 0.25 to 2.0 m³·s⁻¹ and withinstalled capacity of 30 kW. The equipment in the FIG. 3 consists ofupper water level inlet channel 3, pressure shaft 12, regulating outletdevice 1, regulator 11 of the outlet equipment 1, with opto-electronicwater level sensor, isobaric paddles 4 fixed on the wheel 5 withvertical rotation axis 18, drain device 6, friction transmission 7,generator 8, electric part of the micro-electric power plant 9,equipment carrying frame 10.

The inlet channel for upper level 3 guides water into the pressure shaft12, where the water, by acting of water column hydrostatic pressure,sprays via outlet device 1 in direction of axis 2 of the outlet device 1on the isobaric paddles 4 of the wheel 5, which creates the torque onthe wheel 5 embedded on the vertical rotation axis 18 in the equipmentframe 10. The torque is transmitted from the wheel 5 via gearbox 7 tothe generator 8. The water from paddles 4 falls on the water surface,which is identical with the plane 21 and this is identical with theplane 19 or is in lower position and at the same time it is parallelwith the plane 19 limiting the upper level of the water containing draindevice 6. The electric part 9 of the micro electric power plant ensuresthe technical parameters required for connection of generator 8 into thepublic electricity network. The regulator 11 of the outlet device 1 withopto-electronic water level sensor keeps, by regulating the outletdevice 1 the constant upper water level 3, disregarding the water supplyin the inlet channel.

The proposed technical solution in the FIG. 4 was used for the design ofa small hydro-electric power plant of micro plant category, with thelevel difference of 14.0 m, flow rate 0.035 to 0.28 m³·s⁻¹ and withinstalled capacity of 37 kW. The equipment is designed with respect tothe high water speed achieved in the outlet on the wheel so that thewheel revolutions are identical with required revolutions for generatorand speed change is necessary. The equipment in the FIG. 4 consists ofupper water level inlet channel 3, water slip 15, outlet device 1,isobaric paddles 4 fixed on the wheel 5 with horizontal rotation axis18, drain device 6, generator 8, electric part of the micro-electricpower plant 2, carrying structure of channel 13, equipment carryingframe 10.

The inlet channel for upper level 3 guides water to the water slip 15,where the water energetic potential, by acting of gravity force, ischanged into the kinetic energy, which makes the water to spry viaoutlet device 1 in direction of axis 2 of the outlet device 1 on theisobaric paddles 4 of the wheel 5, which creates the torque on the wheel5 embedded on the horizontal rotation axis 18 in the equipment frame 10.The torque is transmitted from the wheel 5 directly to the generator 8.The water from paddles 4 falls on the water surface, which is identicalwith the plane 21 and this is identical with the plane 19 or is in lowerposition and at the same time it is parallel with the plane 19 limitingthe upper level of the water containing drain device 6. The electricpart 9 of the micro electric power plant ensures the technicalparameters required for connection of generator 8 into the publicelectricity network.

The proposed technical solution in the FIG. 5 was used for the design ofa small hydro-electric power plant with the level difference of 4.2 m,flow rate 0.375 to 12.0 m³·s⁻¹ and with installed capacity of 380 kW.The equipment in FIG. 5 consists of the flow heaving dam to upper level3, four outlet equipments 1, outlet equipment regulator 11 withopto-electronic water level sensor, four wheels 5 with fixed isobaricpaddles 4 and with horizontal rotation axis 18, drain device 6, fourfriction transmissions 7 a, four gearboxes 7 b, four generators 8,electric part of the micro-electric power plant 9 and of equipmentcarrying frame 10

The hydrostatic pressure of the water column, created by heaving theupper water level 3, sprays the water via outlet devices 1 in thedirection of axis 2 of the outlet devices 1 on the isobaric paddles 4 ofthe wheels 5, which creates the torque on the wheels 5 embedded on thehorizontal rotation axis 18 in the equipment carrying frame 10. Thetorque is transmitted from the wheels 5 via friction transmission 7 aand gearboxes 7 b to the generators 8. The water from paddles 4 falls onthe water surface, which is identical with the plane 21 and this isidentical with the plane 19 or is in lower position and at the same timeit is parallel with the plane 19 limiting the upper level of the watercontaining drain device 6. The electric part 9 of the micro electricpower plant ensures the technical parameters required for connection ofgenerators 8 into the public electricity network. The regulator 11 ofthe outlet devices 1 with opto-electronic water level sensor keeps, byregulating the outlet devices 1, the constant upper water level 3,disregarding the water supply to the flow heaving dam.

The proposed technical solution in the FIG. 6 was used for the design ofa small hydro-electric power plant on the weir with the level differenceof 3.1 m, flow rate 0.06 to 0.5 m³·s⁻¹ and with installed capacity of 11kW. The equipment in the FIG. 4 consists of the inlet water slip 15,outlet device 1, isobaric paddles 4 fixed on the wheel 5 with verticalrotation axis 18, drain device 6, gearbox 7, generator 8, electric partof the micro-electric power plant 9 and of equipment carrying frame 10.

The weir heaves the upper water level 3 and water runs over the weirupper edge where the hydro-energetic potential of water falling in thewater slip 15 is changed, by acting of gravity force, into the kineticenergy, which makes the water to spry via outlet device 1 in thedirection of axis 2 of the outlet device 1 on the isobaric paddles 4 ofthe wheel 5, which creates the torque on the wheel 5 embedded on thevertical rotation axis 18 in the equipment carrying frame 10. The torqueis transmitted from the wheel 5 via gearbox 7 to the generator 8. Thewater from paddles 4 falls on the water surface, which is identical withthe plane 21 and this is identical with the plane 19 or is in lowerposition and at the same time it is parallel with the plane 19 limitingthe upper level of the water containing drain device 6. The electricpart 9 of the micro electric power plant ensures the technicalparameters required for connection of generator 8 into the publicelectricity network.

The proposed technical solution in the FIG. 7 was used for the design ofirrigation equipment on the flowing with level difference of 2.2 m, flowrate 2.2 m³·s⁻¹, with discharge height of 30 m and capacity of 100ltrs/s. The equipment in FIG. 7 consists of pressure shaft 12, outletdevice 1 with manual regulator 11 of outlet device 1, isobaric paddles 4fixed on wheel 5 with horizontal rotation axis 18, drain device 6, watercentrifugal pump 16 with gearbox 7, suction pipe with strainer 17,discharge pipe 14, equipment carrying frame 10.

The flowing heaves upper water level 3, connected with the pressureshaft 12, where the water, by acting of water column hydrostaticpressure, sprays via outlet device 1 in direction of axis 2 of theoutlet device 1 on the isobaric paddles 4 of the wheel 5, which createsthe torque on the wheel 5 embedded on the horizontal rotation axis 18 inthe equipment carrying frame 10. The torque is transmitted via gearbox 7from the wheel 5 on the centrifugal water pump 16, which sucks waterfrom the heaved water level space via suction pipe with strainer 17 anddischarges it via discharge pipe 14 into the agricultural irrigationsystem. The water from paddles 4 falls on the water surface, which isidentical with the plane 21 and this is identical with the plane 19 oris in lower position and at the same time it is parallel with the plane19 limiting the upper level of the water containing drain device 6. Theequipment output is controlled by manual regulator 11 of the outletdevice 1.

The proposed technical solution in the FIG. 8 was used for the design ofa micro hydro-electric power plant on the existing weir with the leveldifference of 3.0 m, flow rate 0.125 to 1.0 m³·s⁻¹ and with installedcapacity of 22.5 kW. The equipment in the FIG. 8 consists of the waterstream guide functioning as the outlet device 1, isobaric paddles 4fixed on the wheel 5 with horizontal rotation axis 18, drain device 6,belt transmission 7, generator 8, electric part of the micro-electricpower plant 9 and of the movable equipment carrying frame 10.

The weir heaves the upper water level 3 and water runs over the weirupper edge where the falling water hydro-energetic potential is changedinto the kinetic energy, which makes the water to spry via water streamguide, fulfilling the function of outlet device L in the direction ofaxis 2 of the outlet device 1 on the isobaric paddles 4 of the wheel 5,which creates the torque on the wheel 5 embedded on the horizontalrotation axis 18 in the movable equipment carrying frame 10. The torqueis transmitted from the wheel 5 via belt transmission 7 to the generator8. The water from paddles 4 falls on the water surface, which isidentical with the plane 21 and this is identical with the plane 19 oris in lower position and at the same time it is parallel with the plane19 limiting the upper level of the water containing drain device 6. Theelectric part 9 of the micro electric power plant ensures the technicalparameters required for connection of generator 8 into the publicelectricity network. The mechanical linkage of the movable equipmentcarrying frame 10 with the damper ensures their mutual position so thatthe falling water is directed into the stream guide, fulfilling thefunction of outlet device 1 no matter which is the damper position.

INDUSTRIAL UTILITY

The proposed technical solution, water wheel motor, can be used formechanical drive of equipments on the site where the hydro-energeticpotential, in the range of required operation conditions, is available.

1. A water wheel motor comprising: a water wheel having a rotation axis;the an outlet device located in front of the wheel; and a drain devicelocated under the wheel, wherein the wheel is mounted for rotation onthe rotation axis the wheel having fixed thereon paddles, wherein thepaddles are isobaric.
 2. The water wheel motor according to claim 1,wherein all points of the wheel and of the isobaric paddles arepositioned for travel through a plane which is no lower than a planelimiting the upper level of water within a drain device space containingwater.
 3. The water wheel motor according to the claim 1, wherein theoutlet device has an axis along which water flowing through the outletdevice flows, and wherein said axis is directed on the isobaric paddles.4. The water wheel motor according to the claim 1, wherein the rotationaxis of the wheel is in oriented in a position selected from the groupconsisting of the vertical, horizontal and oblique positions.